what Software is best for inventory and framing business?

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J

J Phipps TN

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 14, 2004
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Loc
Kingsport TN
We are currently using Lifesaver, and yes it is great for framing but we have expanding into a very large inventory business and it is not cutting it. Lots of small issues that cause much confusion.

Is there anything out there that would be better for framing/gift inventory.
One big issue is that with Lifesaver you can only add up to 12 items, and then you have to start a new ticket.
Also, it can't do multi pay if you use powerpay! What's up with that?

We are getting ready to invest in a bar code scanner and with all of the issues we are having with Lifesaver, we want to be sure we investigate all the others that are out there before we go any further.

Any advise would be appreciated.
 
J Phipps TN said:
Also, it can't do multi pay if you use powerpay! What's up with that?
Click to expand...


Didn't know that about Lifesaver/Powerpay. I want to know more about that as we have been thinking about switching over to PP and need to make a decision soon.

I sell gift items with Lifesaver and I guess I haven't had an issue with more than 12 line items at a time, so I can't answer your question. If I regularly sold more than 12 line items at a time I would be thrilled though.
 
We have to do one payment and close it out and then do a credit card on another,if they want to do two different kinds of payments, or it will charge the whole thing to the credit card. When we called and asked they told us it was because of Power Pay. Which we had to have to take a Credit Card straight through Lifesaver. (catch 22 i guess)
 
I'm not sure about that. I think you can do MultiPay. Or maybe I just took multiple payments, ie took their cash, applied payment then reentered payment page and took a credit card payment.

I do know that you can take as many payments per invoice as your "layaway" customer wants to make ;)
 
J Phipps TN said:
One big issue is that with Lifesaver you can only add up to 12 items, and then you have to start a new ticket.
Click to expand...

Hi Jennifer,

You can enter up to 99 lines/items per invoice, and each one can have a quantity from 1-9999. 99 lines won't fit on one piece of (laserjet) paper when it prints, so it will generate a multi page invoice.

The secret is to click the right arrow on the "< PAGE >" icon. This will advance to the next page. The first screen/page will display lines 1-11, the second screen/page will display lines 12-22, the third will display lines 23-33, etc. I don't think we have ever gone beyond one screen at our shop, but I just tested it with 35 items to make sure.

If you have the barcode module and a compatible barcode reader, it only takes about a second to enter each inventoried item on the customer's invoice. We use this for gift items, ready-mades, art, pre-cut mats, etc.

I hope this info is helpful

Best regards,
Mike
Get The Picture
 
Hi Jennifer

Your reply and my response were erased by a system crash at the grumble today, so i'm answering again from memory.

You had a concern about commissioned items showing up on the art inventory reports, throwing off the total value of inventory.

Solution: When you print the art inventory, there is a check box to "omit consigned items". This should do the trick.

The art/gift database is an area that will soon be improved. Some great suggestions have been submitted for consideration.

Here is some additional info about managing consignments, from the LS Tips & Tricks guide:

I hope this is helpful

Warm regards,
Mike

Managing Consignment Items with LifeSaver

Adding consignment items to inventory

From the main menu:
-Click ART (art/gift item inventory)
-Click ADD
-Enter normal information about this piece (desc, title, item #, artist, selling price, etc)
-At the bottom, Fill in the CONSIGNED FROM and PERCENT TO ARTIST fields
-Click STOP ADD to save


Generate manual report of consignment activity

From the main menu:
-Click ART (art/gift item inventory)
-Click FILE (pull-down menu)
-Click ART COMMISSION REPORT
-Select either "commissions paid" or "commissions due"
-Select starting and ending dates for the report
-Enter consignee name, or leave blank for all
-Click OK to generate report


Enable the automatic daily art consignment due report

This report will create daily closing reports to properly pay your consigned artists. It will also include what
sold, to whom, and for how much.

From the main menu:
-Click CLOSING
-Click PREFERENCES
-Click a check next to ART CONSIGNMENT DUE REPORT
-Click OK to save
 
Thank you Mike! I did the multi-page thing and that did the trick. I had no idea that that was available.

We will work on the other things too. Thank you so much.

So you would recomend the bar code scanner with LS above any other framing software?
 
Bar Code Scanners....

J Phipps TN said:
...So you would recomend the bar code scanner with LS above any other framing software?
Click to expand...

Jennifer,

Mike is confirming how wonderful a bar code scanner is to use with his POS software, especially if you sell other merchandise, whether this be art supplies, gifts are pre-cut mats.

We actually have 5 bar code scanner wands in our shop. One at our check-out island, 3 at the framing design counters and one in the shipping/receiving department.

When merchandise arrives we can scan in any true UPC barcode that may exist on the box or tag. If we generate a bar code label in addition both with point to that particular item. This tool really helps cut down on errors.

In addition with framing it keeps mistakes down, when you are scanning in a moulding ID Vs. typing in numbers that may be very close to another moulding ID number? Oops!

John

P.S. Mike uses LifeSaver - We use SpecialtySoft - both will benefit from having bar code scanners :thumbsup: - You do not need the most expensive models, but don't buy the least expensive either!
 
Thanks for that!
One last question....

We sell lots of jewelry with very small tags. Can you print the labels or bar codes on smaller stickers?

i guess what I need to know is can you change the size of the tags?
 
J Phipps TN said:
i guess what I need to know is can you change the size of the tags?
Click to expand...

I believe there are several sizes supported, if you use the optional DYMO label printer. I would have to check with LifeSaver, and try our Dymo at the shop, to confirm. (I'm not there at the moment)

I know these dymo item numbers work for sure, but none of these are what you are requesting:

mat/moulding/art & gift barcode label rolls: Dymo # 30277 (file folder type)
receipt paper rolls: Dymo # 30270
mailing label rolls: Dymo # 30252

I'll check when I get to the shop

Mike
 
The Dymo # 30332 will soon be supported, and is currently being beta tested with the software. This is a one inch label, which is suitable for smaller items. It will print a barcode with the description and price below.

Although due for release soon, tech support can probably supply the required file in advance. Just a single file is saved to your c:\lifesaver\dymo\ folder, to add support for the smaller label. Of course you also have to have the Dymo printer and the 30332 roll :)

Do you think this would be suitable for your application?

Have a great evening
Mike
 
small labels

J Phipps TN said:
We are really struggling if they can't come any smaller, because we carry alot of jewelry.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Jennifer,
The labels that I like to use for small items are the Avery 05167. They are 1 3/4" x 1/2". There are 80 on a sheet and can be printed on a regular printer.

I can fold part of the label over so that the item number, description and barcode are on one side and the price is on the other.

Or try sticking one small label printed on the front and a blank label on the back creating a sandwich with the jewelry chain or ring in the middle. The label can fold in the ring display case but still be unfolded to scan for the sale.

Hope this gives some ideas.

And adding to John's comment; barcode scanners work great with any of the POS software programs available to framers. They are a fast and easy way to ring through small items on the invoice. We have a 'rapid entry' screen where you can scan as many items as you want - none stop - and then click Done and they are all entered onto one invoice. I really recommend the barcode scanners for use with small or numerous retail items.
 
Smile with Style said:
We have a 'rapid entry' screen where you can scan as many items as you want - none stop - and then click Done and they are all entered onto one invoice. I really recommend the barcode scanners for use with small or numerous retail items.
Click to expand...

Carol, I am still learning what the software has to offer. More surprises all the time. Where is this screen?

We also use several scanners in the shop. We knew from the beginning that scanning was the only way to go and we have enjoyed the quick accuracy that using scanners brings.
 
We use Specialty Soft here. Have had it for almost 7 years now I think. We have thousands of SKUs, since the other half of our store is scrapbooking. Tons of little items to keep track of. The company has been great to deal with.
 
Scanning Quickly

Kirstie said:
Carol, I am still learning what the software has to offer. More surprises all the time. Where is this screen?

We also use several scanners in the shop. We knew from the beginning that scanning was the only way to go and we have enjoyed the quick accuracy that using scanners brings.
Click to expand...

Kirstie,
The Rapid Entry screen is in the Invoice file. When you create a new invoice, you can access it by clicking on the "Rapid Entries" button in the top left corner, (directly under the "New Customer" button). This feature is available in FrameReady versions 6.0 to 7.0.
It presents a new screen where you just keep scanning the items in. When you are finished, click the "Done" button and you will return to the Invoice screen with all the the items listed.
 
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